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Current Affairs happening in Singapore

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yeo wan ling with women workers

Labour MP Yeo Wan Ling’s role in the NTUC allows her to work on protecting women's livelihoods as well as supporting their careers.

As women in Singapore continue to face challenges at home, at work and in the community, they need a helping hand when it comes to exploring new career options, seeking support, forming alliances and more. Now, the PAP has been a champion for women since the beginning. Over the decades, the Government has consistently pursued policies that have enabled women to make strong progress.

The Unions have also been supporting and representing women in the workplace over the decades. In 1973, the NTUC set up a Women’s Committee. Through the Unions and the work of women unionists, the statuses of women in the workforce were uplifted and women’s participation in the Labour Movement increased.



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Mental stress can happen anywhere, at home, in school or workplace.

The River Valley tragedy has taught us that mental wellness is of utmost importance. We can show empathy, listen to one another and choose to edify. In the workplace, a little kindness can go a long way. And a quick chat with a colleague can help us feel motivated and regain our strength again.



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SOMETHING TO CHEER. Unemployment rates were lower in June, even though they were not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. Citizen unemployment rate fell from 4 per cent in May to 3.8 per cent in June.

Meanwhile, the government is giving out financial support to sectors that continue to be impacted by the heightened measures. The Job Support Scheme (JSS) for hard-hit sectors like gyms, F&B and performing arts organisations was increased to 60%. Market and hawker stall owners also received a one-time relief of $500 each. For taxi and private-hire drivers, an additional $30 million help was doled out as the Covid-19 Driver Relief Fund was extended.



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school staff tested positive

Schools remain safe places for students, Mr Chan said. Full HBL comes at a significant cost to students' learning as well as emotional and mental wellbeing. Students are not necessarily better off as not all homes have a conducive environment for children. Teachers have to juggle the additional demands of preparing and conducting online lessons while taking care of their families, and parents scramble to make alternative care arrangements.

Going forward, a sustainable solution is a targeted approach to deal with COVID-19 in our schools.



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discrimination

Did you know that the tripartite partners have been relentless in their push to ensure Singaporean workers are not facing discrimination?

The NTUC-PME Taskforce has engaged more than 9,000 PMEs in the last 6 months. Labour MP Patrick Tay suggested that fair hiring practices can be enhanced by improving companies' human resources standards while strengthening enforcement. Stiffer penalties on errant companies with discriminatory hiring practices should be imposed. These sentiments were similarly shared by NTUC Deputy Secretary General Chee Hong Tat at a recent event by the Human Capital Singapore.



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twelve cupcakes

The Food Services industry employs a large number of low-wage workers. There is a need to hold companies accountable for workers’ wages and welfare, and this includes paying their salaries on time, and in full.

In February, Twelve Cupcakes employees voted in favour of the Union to represent them. The successful unionisation of Twelve Cupcakes, was announced by the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) in a Facebook post. Good move. The Union is working closely with the management to improve the workers’ well-being, uplift wages and upskill the workers in preparation for the economy’s recovery.



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A straight-line trajectory for China to overtake the US is not a given. Neither is the pre-eminence of US to be taken for granted. Both have their domestic challenges. The US-China rivalry needs not end in conflict.

"Victory will depend on the power of their example, rather than the example of their power. And this starts from the domestic front." The ability to resolve their domestic challenges will lead to confidence in relating with each other as partners. Conversely speaking, the more they struggle to resolve their domestic challenges, the more they will fall prey to hardliners who desire to paint the other side as the cause of all their problems.



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Racial intolerance goes against our founding values as a nation, and has no place in our society. Our multi-racialism is not a concept, Mr Chan said. It is our daily lived reality and source of pride. "It is a constant work-in-progress which we never take for granted, nor will we ever give up."

"These are tough times but more than ever, we need to stand united in meeting these challenges. The challenges do not define us. But how we rise to the challenges will define us."



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Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) is still needed, Pritam says

National Development Minister Desmond Lee is glad that WP has made a clear, political change of position on the need for the EIP. As Desmond elaborated, we still need the EIP:

"Because we want our void decks, playgrounds and hawker centres to be places where we meet and get to know neighbours from other races.
Because we want our children to grow up with children of different races.
Because we want to avoid situations where racial segregation in housing leads to inter-generational inequality and deep-seated racial tensions.
Because that is how we press on towards our ideal of a cohesive and multiracial Singapore."



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